Chapter 119 Messages
In the air, above Costa Lunas Bay.
Chara looked over the peninsula and the groups of soldiers. Both sides were firing arrows and spears with ballistae. Many of the ships were in the bay, safe from harm. The warships were firing stones at the soldiers who were attacking the ports. When they got closer, Golden Arrow looked for a place to land. The Pegasus landed as a procession emerged from the castle to greet them. Golden Arrow ran towards the bipedal creatures while Chara untied the ropes. When he stopped, she jumped to the ground.
Patricia was standing between four armed servants: Welcome, Rider!
Chara: Thank you, I have a message for the lady.
Patricia: Of course.
The rider had seen the maid twice. On both occasions, she noticed a look in her eyes that puzzled her somewhat. But she also could not ignore how beautiful and delicate the maid of Marisela was.
In an observation room in one of the twin towers of the castle.
Marisela: The brave lady rider.
Chara knelt and felt proud of her title. She took a parchment from her vest and handed it to the lady. Everyone waited while the little lady opened it and read it.
She stopped reading and whispered: Heinrich.
Chara: Yes. Lord Heinrich is in command of the fleet and the army of Puerto Blanco. They will probably arrive tomorrow.
Marisela handed the parchment to Patricia, then approached the rider and hugged her. Chara was used to people taller than herself, but this woman was shorter than Corsino.
The woman broke the embrace and wiped a tear from her face: I am sorry. I am not usually so rude.
Chara smiled: Do not worry, my lady.
Marisela changed her attitude in front of everyone: Patricia, find Severo and tell him I need him.
The maid bowed and left quickly.
Marisela: Rider, ask my servants for whatever you need. I will write a reply to the queen while your Pegasus rests.
Chara: Thank you. I am at your service.
Marisela: Pages! Find the old flag of the kingdom from the time of King Gutierre. Raise it on the east tower. Place a flag of Puerto Blanco on the west tower.
She was writing while waiting for her knight.
He entered quickly and knelt: My lady.
Marisela: Severo, take the warships to Isla Forteleza. Your orders are in this scroll. Use all necessary means. Send more soldiers to the ports. They cannot fall into enemy hands.
Chara watched as the woman gave orders to her servants. There was something dangerous about that small woman.
In the air above the castle.
White Stockings flew high over the nest. Floriano counted the types and number of soldiers surrounding the fortress. The soldiers in the nest had fired arrows at them, but they all fell to the ground. After more than a hundred shots, they had only managed to kill a chicken and wound two of their own soldiers with the stray arrows.
From a window, Victorino watched them and then looked at his soldiers: Captain! Go and tell those idiots to stop wasting arrows.
Floriano: My beauty, fly over the western area and stay at a low altitude. We already know the range of these arrows. We need to find out what they can do with the ballistae.
As they approached, a ballista fired at them. The spear flew at great speed towards a space located in front of Pegasus. White Stockings had been flying slowly and steadily until she saw the spear. She turned and descended in altitude as the spear flew to the west.
Victorino observed the scene and shouted: Send a message to all the ballista and archer commanders! No one is to shoot at a Pegasus without my order!
The count of war watched as more spears flew towards the Pegasus. Each one was easily dodged and fell to the ground, except for one that killed a cow a slightly early in the neighborhood of shambles. The butcher was relieved that it was not one of his sons. By nightfall, all the Pegasi that came near White Stockings would know how far the weapons of the castle could reach and at what speed. Victorino understood this and began to think about how to change the way they attacked the Pegasi.
High in the sky, in the east.
Snowfall flew over the mountains, heading directly towards the Ridges. Hernando wore several layers of clothing to protect himself from the cold air. Whenever she could, she would descend to shelter him.
As they flew over the northern hills, the Pegasus saw groups of people gathered around bonfires and tents.
Snowfall: Bipeds and cows.
Hernando received the images in his mind and decided not to talk about the difference between cows and horses.
The rider: If you are not too tired, we can fly closer on the way back.
They crossed the mountain ridges and discovered that there were few people on the southern ridges and only a few more on the northern ones. But Hernando noticed that there were flags of many different infantry companies on poles near the houses. Once they had enough information, they headed southwest until they encountered long lines of soldiers marching along the main road.
Hernando: Fly until you see a group far from the lines. They are the vanguard of the army.
After a few minutes, she thought: Now I see a group of riders mounted on cows. They are moving slowly.
Hernando: Fine, if you can, fly towards the people you saw near the hills. We can land after we see them.
It was already late when they arrived near the camps. The Pegasus was flying in a wide circle.
On the ground, Oleg looked up at the sky. He picked up a torch and lit it. He ran towards an open area in the twilight of the evening. He moved the torch, making a specific signal.
Hernando: My sweet girl, land near them. That is a signal the riders use. I have only ever seen it in a drawing.
When they were on land, the man and some others approached. Each of them carried torches. One of them appeared older than the others.
Oleg: Rider, I think your name was Ernando, right?
The man untied the ropes and asked: Yes, my lord. Who are you?
The old man: My name is Oleg; I am a friend of your High Priest. How are things in the city?
Hernando: The city is under the control of Valero. The queen and her army are in exile.
The expression of Oleg changed to one of concern: You know my granddaughter, Birgit, do you not?
Hernando, a little nervous: Yes, we are friends.
Oleg: She is traveling to the city now with a message for Danilo.